National Assembly · Morning Sitting

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a statement from the Chairperson of the Department Committee of Health regarding the effects of the withdrawal of funding by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Kenya. The abrupt suspension of US foreign aid under USAID has significantly disrupted critical programs in …

The halting of funding has caused severe economic and social disruptions, leading to the loss of at least 35,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly, as many NGOs in the health, agriculture and education sectors, among others, rely on USAID-backed contracts. Additionally, the healthcare sector is among the most affected, with thousands of doctors, nurses, midwives and community health workers facin…

Hon. Owino, go back and do the right thing. This request shall be referred to the Departmental Committee on Health. I do not see the Chairperson. Is there any Member of that Committee? Hon. Nyamai, what did you want to comment about on this one? Go ahead; you have one or two minutes.

[(Hon. Walter Owino went to the Bar and bowed to the Chair)]

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to comment on the Statement raised by Hon. Kamene, Member for Machakos County. As I congratulate her for bringing this matter to the House, I ask the Departmental Committee on Health that, as they respond to this issue, to bear in mind that there is a new world order. Withdrawal and reduction of funding is happening all over the world. It seems that the Un…

Member for Nairobi, you have two minutes to comment on the request.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I commend Hon. Joyce Kamene for bringing up this matter. I agree with Hon. Rachel

Nyamai that there is a new world order. This is a time for us as a country to reflect on how Singaporeans decided to decisively deal with corruption and the need to serve their people. Uhuru Kenyatta was the first to pronounce himself on USAID's withdrawal and the American government's withdrawal of essential funds committed to Africa.

Who is Uhuru Kenyatta?

The former President of Kenya, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, pronounced himself on the issue of dependence on donor aid and that we should be focussed on becoming self-sustaining. This is a wake-up call. We need to deal decisively with corruption so that we have enough resources to cope with the demands in our country. That is one area in which Singapore was successful. That will heighten the level of patr…

Thank you. Members, this statement request is referred to the Departmental Committee on Health. I hope they can bring a report in the next three weeks. Before I give a chance to the Member for Nairobi again, join me in recognising and welcoming students from the following schools:

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding the status of security at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) . Security at healthcare facilities is foundational in providing safe and effective care. It safeguards patients, protects staff, secures assets, and ens…

I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health on the

This Request for a Statement is referred to the Committee on Health. Deputy Whip of the Majority Party, I want your attention because the next time these matters come up, I will not ask the Chairpersons. I will ask you about them. The first Request for a Statement was made by the Member for Machakos County regarding the withdrawal of funds by USAID. This one is about security at KNH. Because we ca…

I have heard the request. I am sure that it will be responded to.

When?

Immediately after the short recess.

Is that three weeks from today?

Yes.

I hope the Member for Nairobi City County has noted that. The next request is from the Member for West Mugirango.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the urgent need for speed bumps and other safety measures at the Equator area and Mununga stretch along the Nyahururu-Nyeri Road. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is responsible for developing, rehab…

Hon. Gachagua, I believe that you have finalised making the request for a Statement, and are now giving some explanation. What you have said is enough.

Apologies, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Members, I will give just one Member a chance to speak on this. Hon. Rindikiri Mugambi, would you like to comment on that request for a Statement?

Yes. Eng. Gachagua has raised a very important issue for discussion in this House. In my opinion, KeNHA is quite unresponsive. There have been numerous questions posed in this House, and we have witnessed fatalities on our transnational highways, yet this organisation has taken no action. We are requesting that you issue a directive for the Cabinet Secretary responsible for transport to come here,…

Hon. Members, I do not see the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure in the House, but the Deputy Majority Whip is here. She will transmit the request for a Statement to the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. When will we have the response, Deputy Majority Whip?

To be precise, this should be after recess, which is in two weeks.

A timeline of about two weeks is in order. Make sure that that information reaches the Chairperson.

(Hon. Esther Passaris and Hon. Haika Mizighi consulted along the gangways)

Order, Members for Nairobi and Taveta Counties. Next Order.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(The Bill was read a Second Time and Committed to Committee of the whole House)]

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Liaison Committee on its consideration of the 2025 Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 5th March 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Section 15 (4) of the Public Finance Management Act 2012, and Standing Order 232 (A) (7) and (8) :

Hon. Gichimu, you have one minute. I will also give Hon. Bensuda one minute.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This Bill seeks to bring services closer to the people.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

What is your point of order?

My point of order is that your eyes have refused to see me.

Order, Hon. Jayne Kihara. You did not have a card, and I got that information very late. I am looking at the list here. I know you are a senior Member, and I greatly respect you. You will have a moment. Please be patient; you will also have a bite. Proceed, Hon. Gichimu. You have one minute.

I am not sure if my time is still counting down, but I appreciate that this is an important Bill, which is why many Members wish to contribute. I believe they will still have a chance, as the Mover will reply later. I generally support the Bill, but I will consult with Hon. Wamaua regarding the composition of the board, as it exceeds what has previously been mentioned. We need to fine-tune it so t…

Hon. Kihara, you have two minutes. We will then hear from Hon. Bensuda. Please give the microphone to Hon. Kihara.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also want to applaud Hon. Wamaua for this very progressive Bill. We frequently deal with education matters at the constituency level. My main concern is with the title of the Bill; it is called the "Basic Education (Amendment) Bill." However, I believe the sub-county education boards should be responsible for overseeing basic, higher, and even TVE…

[(Technical and Vocational Education and Training)]

Regarding the registration of schools, I want to share an example, and then I will conclude. There was a school condemned by the Ministry of Health, and it took an incredibly long time to deregister it. As a result, we had to construct a new school on that site. The process requires approval that often has to go all the way to Nakuru, which serves 11 constituencies. Changing the name of a school i…

Hon. Bensuda, you have a maximum of two minutes.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I rise to congratulate Hon. Mary Wamaua for this kind of initiative. I believe we share similar backgrounds, and you are clearly passionate about this issue. It would be criminal if a guru teacher like me does not contribute to this. I support this Bill for four main reasons. First, I support the inclusion of the Member of Parliament as an …

Hon. Tonui, take exactly one minute so that we adjourn this matter. Give Hon. Tonui one minute. Proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity also to add my voice to this important Bill. First, I commend Hon. Wamaua, for coming up with this progressive Bill whose purpose is to take services closer to the people. I support all that my colleagues have said. My county, Nakuru County, is very huge; it has 11 sub-counties. Therefore, the County Education Board has a lot of w…

Order, Hon. Tonui. This Bill is still coming up for further debate. When we come back to debate it, Hon. Tonui, you will have nine minutes.